Bill file



G. BURGESS BILL FILE Filed May 5, 1920 Svwmvtot GL-B uzigess.

Patented Nov. 11, 1924.

rnrss 5 BILL FILE.

Application filed May 3,

To all whom it may concern:

Be it knownthat I, GEORGE L. Bonenss, a citizen of the United States, residing at Goodland, in the county of Newton and State of Indiana, have invented a new and useful Bill File, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention relates to new and useful improvements in containers, and more particularly to containers especially adapted for containing papers, bills or the like, wherein it is desired to file the same.

The primary object of the invention is to provide a container of this character, which may be employed in connection with filing cabinets, so that the papers filed in the container will be secured against displacement.

A further object of the invention is the provision of means within the container for gripping the contents of the containerwhen the closure is moved to an open position, whereby eliminating any possibility of the contents falling from the container.

With the foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter described and claimed, it being understood that changes in the precise embodiment of the invention herein disclosed, may be made within the scope of What is claimed, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Referring to the drawings Figure 1 illustrates a container constructed in accordance with the present invention, the same being shown with the closure thereof in its open position.

Figure 2 illustrates a perspective view of the same, the closure being shown in its closed position,

Figure 3 is a sectional view through the upper portion of the container or box-like structure, taken below the clamping members.

Referring to the drawing in detail, the container includes a box-like structure indicated at 5, the same being formed of any suitable material and provided with a cut out portion indicated at 6, formed in one of the end members thereof, the cut out portion extending from one edge of the end member and terminating in spaced relation with the opposite edge thereof, for

1920. Serial No. 378,488.

purposes to be hereinafter more fully described.

Secured within the box-like construction are the bars 7, which bars provide a securing means to which one end of the spring clamping members 8 are secured, the opposite ends of these clamping members beshown as extending through suitable openings indicated at 9 and provided in the side walls of the container, so that the ends may move through the openings to permit the intermediate portions of the clamping members to accomplish a clamping operation.

As shown, one side of the container is opento permit sheets of paper to be positioned therein, and this opening is guarded by the pivoted closure 10, which has one of its ends disposed between the side walls of the container, and secured therebetween by'means of the pivot pins 11 having connection with opposite side edges of the closure 10.

A clamping member indicated at 12 is in the form of a relatively wide strip of sheet metal having right angled ends 13 and 14, the clamping member being however hingedly connected to the outer surface of the closure 10 at 10 and at a point substantially intermediate th ends thereof, the right angled end 14: being shown as apertured to receive one extremity of the spring rod 15. This spring rod 15, is secured to the outer surface of the closure by means of the eye bolt 16, which embraces a portion of the spring rod, one end of the spring rod extending at right angles to the body portion thereof and disposed in a suitable opening in the closure 10, as at 17, the right angled portion being of a length to extend an appreciable distance between the inner surface of the closure 10 to receive papers or the like, the papers being forced over the right-angled end 17.

The clamping member 12 has one extremity 13 thereof extending over one end of the closure 10, the right angled portion 18 of the clamping member lying in a plane in parallel relation with the closure 10 in a manner to cooperate with the inner surface of the closure to clamp articles between the clamping member 12 and the closure 10.

From the foregoing it is obvious that when the closure 10 is moved to a position as indicated by Figure 2 of the drawing, the

right-angled member 18, moves through the opening 6 to allow the clamping member to retain the articles supported thereby.

It might be further stated that the construction of the spring clamping members 8 is such that they extend an appreciable distance Within the container, the body portion 19 thereof extending at angles with relation to the side Walls of the container, so that a number of sheets of paper supported Within the container will be gripped by the clamping members 8 and held Within the container.

In the use of the devise, the papers to be filed are inserted between the member 18 and the inner surface of the closure 10, the protruding end 17 of the spring rod being gtorced through the sheets, whereupon the papers are secured in position. When the closure is moved to a closed position, the protruding ends oi the clamping members are gripped by the operator and moved to move the clamping members out oi" the path of travel of the sheets supported by the closure, so that the sheets position themselves behind the spring clamping members 8 to further insure against the displacement thereof.

Having thus described the invention, What is claimed as new is 1- 1. In a device of the character described, a body portion including a box-like structure spring clamping members Within the box-like structure, a hinged closure, clamp-' ing means carried by the closure for clamping a pack of papers, and said spring clamping members adapted to be engaged with the side edges of the pack of papers When the closure is moved to a closed position.

2. In a device of the character described, a body portion including a box-like structure, a pair of spring clamping members positioned Within the box-like structure, a closure, means carried by the closure for grip ping a pack of papers, said spring clamping members adapted to be engaged with the side edges of the pack "of papers when the closure is moved to a closed position, and means carried by the closure for piercing the lower ends of the papers.

In a device of the character described, a body portion including a box-like structure, a closure, a pivoted clamping member carried by the closure, a spring rod secured to the closure and engaging the clamping member, said rod having a right-angled extremity extending through the closure to pierce the papers supported by the closure, andclamping means Within the box-like structure adapted to be engaged With the papers carried by the closure, when the closure is moved to a closed position.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto afiiXed my signature in the presence of two Witnesses.

GEORGE LEWIS BURGESS. 

